weird question!!!

[betty12]

so this is my first baby and im very scared for like the whole cutting the perineum part cuz im pretty sure that will happen to me. can you feel it like ripping? does it hurt like really bad?do they give you some kind of medicine for the pain down there? im just really scared for the whole thing lol but i think thats normal.lol

[myahrose]

Hi, I am pregnant with my third child and understand your anxiety. I had a big episiotomy/tear (which I hardly felt)  with my first one - and to be honest I didn't have any complications after it...just a bit sore for a while. With my second I asked the nurses to keep a warm, wet cloth on the area to soften the tissue. I DEFINITELY think this helped and only ended up with 2 little stitches - he was 10pound 8oz!!! Hope that helps a bit - good luck :)

[Mommy2aGenius]

I had an epidural and episiotomy with my first child and ended up with a bad 4th degree tear.  I haven't had any more kids yet but I was talking with my new dr and they said definately schedule a C-section for the next delivery. I have done extensive research on the topic on the internet and I've read the same suggestion.

There is a reason why they gave an episiotomy in the first place, to make the baby come out more quickly and easily (and usually it's at the Dr's convenience).  If you don't want to risk further damage then most definately schedule a C-section.   If I would have known that I would have gotten a tear into my sphincter I would have just skipped natural birth all together.  It's one thing to get fulfillment from delivering your child naturally, but the irreversable damage that it caused I still live with to this day and it's had a major effect on my physical, mental and emotional health. My daughter got stuck behind my pubic bone and the dr broke her collarbone just to get her out of me. Does that sound like a good way for her to have entered this world?  Vaginal birth is not worth it, but if you must deliver vaginally, make sure you have a birth plan signed by you and your dr stating that he/she agrees not to give you an episiotomy. And if they STILL do, SUE!  I wish I would have.

[diva_lorri]

Your welcome ladies! I just said to my dh, its weird the one thing I was absssssssssssolutely petrified about and knew nothing about a few weeks ago I just helped someone with lol... go figure!
im definately excited and cant wait also! 6 weeks till my lil man is here! omg!!
also...
aswell as perineal massage you can also use an item called 'Epi-No Delphine Plus'. If anyone wants any info on it p/m me or ask on this post and Ill find my info/ website etc and post it tomorrow. Im also considering buying one as Ive heard great things about it such as no tears or no episiotomys needed (and i like the sound of that!). theyre expensive but alot more effective than perineal massage apparently.

[LZFreedom]

I studied the Bradley Method of Husband coached childbirth years ago... and am so glad I did. Then in 94 before my second daughter was born, my care providers were a group of midwives that were associated with the local hospital. They told me that if the doctor hadn't allowed me to tear during my first childbirth, that I wouldn't have needed an episiotomy with the birth of my second daughter.
The perineum is naturally numbed by the pressure of the baby's head on the whole area.
A small snip to enlarge the opening is much better than a tear.
However, during labor and childbirth, your partner can put their fingers into the opening, with or without a lubricant, and massage and stretch the perineum. The massage is soothing for the skin being stretched and can alleviate the need for an episiotomy.
I hate the men's joke about sewing it up with an extra stitch... our bodies are made to go through this naturally; as in most cases, a little tenderness and encouragement can go a long way. Good luck ladies with your upcoming births! Blessings of Peace and Wholeness to you and all of your family's!! Woshi.

[spade22]

If you dont have an epidural in place, they will numb the area w/ a local such as Novocaine.  It wont hurt at all and the local takes effect almost instantly.

[BTS1022]

Now adays they do give you a local anestetic to numb that area before they cut it, so I think either way you will be on the safe side.

[martikadragoon]

My mom had an episiotomy with my youngest brother (her only natural birth) but she didn't have any pain meds and felt the cut! (we've got the whole thing on video and in it she yells "ow that hurts, I can feel that!" but they do it quick and then the head is out fast.  She didn't have any healing complications as far as I know.

[betty12]

so you guys think that that messaging it  will stretch it out a bit or more flixable or what not?

[BTS1022]

I had an episiotomy almost 6 years ago with my first born, and I still have issues where they cut me aswell. Although with my second son, and my 3rd son I never tore nor needed an episiotomy, I did my perineum(sp) massages and hubby did a few during intimate encounters. I have a severe sensitivity in the area of my episiotomy, and the scar tissue has made it somewhat painful during intercourse and sometimes even BM's.

If you request not to have one the doc has to respect your wishes, but If I had a choice, I would go through the episiotomy even after all the issues I still have. I would much rather have it be a controlled cut, than a tear that can go out of whack and tear me through the bum.

[JoyRenee]

Ouch! Diva lorri, amazing information. But I still have to say that my SIL had an episiotomy and it still gives her pain 3 years after giving birth. The doctor didn't cut her correctly. OUCH! Ahhh... okay can't think about this anymore.

[betty12]

thank you everyone

to:diva_lorri it has helped me alot. i always thought that if you tear you would tear from your vagina to your bum. so i was so scared i dont want that. im 24wks now and very anxious. you must be very anxious your so close. what are you having?

[Linzola1]

I just had my baby on Friday and I did not have to have an episiomity but I did have a small tear and since I had a epidural I did not feel it. It is uncomfortable still but I was perscribed Motrin 800mg and it didnt really work for the pain so I called and they sent me a Narcotic. I have pain medications so I have only taken 1 and the pain must be TERRIABLE for me to take it. I dont like how they make me feel. A piece of adcive (as long as you are getting an epidural) dont worry about it. It really is not that bad. I worried about all the little things and none of them were that bad.

[diva_lorri]

Hi there - Ive been petrified about the tearing/ cutting of the perinieum also. At my antenatal class though we discussed it in full and I feel a little better about it. Il tell you what I know and maybe itl ease your mind too... If you have an epidural chances are you wont feel it anyway as you'd be farely numb.
When your in that stage of labour and your perineum begins to stretch from pushing you will feel 'the ring of fire/ burning' sensation. It is better and actually hurts less aparently if you push through it and not resist it (or so Ive been told). Also if you begin to tear toward your anus it is better for the healing process if they cut you (episiotomy) as it can make things very complicated if you tear into your anus. When they give you an episiotomy they will cut on an angle (away from your anus). My ob doesnt do episiotomys unless necessary but after learning all this I think id rather get one than be split from my vajayjay to my bum! lol... i was concerned that they would precisely have to snip away or something as well but apparently they cut it so quick you dont even know theyre doing it.
i think at the time though when crunch comes to crunch and where in the throws of labour we wont care, we'l just want baby out by this point.
hope ive helped a little bit :-)

how far along are you? im coming into my 34th week :-)

lorri

[JoyRenee]

You can request that they not do an episiotomy. I never had one. You can also have your husband or a nurse massage the perineum (you can begin doing it yourself now) so it stretches better. I had a little tearing but I did not feel it. I was focused on other things!!! LOL! I was more focused on the contractions, my breathing, pushing, etc. so I did not notice the tearing at all (I also had an epidural).

As far as pain medication goes, they can give you an epidural. They basically put an IV in through your spine and it numbs you from the waist down.